COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Rep. Don Carlson, Republican Co-Chair; and

 Rep. Phyllis Kenney, Democratic Co-Chair

 

BILL ANALYSIS

ESSCR 8425

 

Brief Description: Adopting the recommendations of the Higher Education Coordinating Board=s year 2000 update of the master plan.

 

Background: The Higher Education Coordinating Board was created to provide planning, coordination, monitoring, and policy analysis for higher education in the state of Washington.  The board was directed to consult institutions and other segments of postsecondary education as it carried out these responsibilities.  The board was also directed to represent the broad public interest above the interests of the individual colleges and universities.

 

By statute, the board must prepare a comprehensive master plan and update it every four years.  The plan and updates must be submitted to the Governor and appropriate legislative policy committees.  Following public hearings, the Legislature must, by concurrent resolution, approve or recommend changes to the initial plan and subsequent updates.  The plan then becomes state higher education policy unless legislation is enacted to alter the policies in the plan.

 

The board updated its master plan again in 2000.  The resulting document, entitled The 21st Century Learner - Strategies to Meet the Challenge, outlines five goals for higher education in Washington and accompanying strategies to achieve these goals.   The board also reports that the state=s higher education system will need to provide opportunities for an additional 70,000 students by the year 2010. 

 

Summary of the bill: The Legislature commends the Higher Education Coordinating Board for its dedication and commitment to the state.  The Legislature thanks the board for describing the challenges facing the state in its attempts to provide the postsecondary education and training that citizens need in the twenty-first century.

 

The Legislature reaffirms its commitment to respond to actual enrollment demand.  Solutions to the enrollment challenge may be found in strategies that:

 

     #make student learning the yardstick by which accountability, effectiveness, and        efficiency is measured;

     #link students= participation in higher education to their K-12 achievement;

     #provide the information citizens need to make the best use of the learning opportunities available to them and support outreach efforts to ensure the higher education system reflects the diversity of the state's population;

     #expand the use of e-learning technologies and using public facilities to the fullest           extent possible; and

     #help colleges and universities meet student needs and compete in an increasingly         competitive marketplace.

 

The Legislature directs the board to reexamine its assumptions with regard to the following:

 

     #projected upper division and graduate enrollment;

     #the role of the community and technical colleges in meeting enrollment demand; and

     #capital needs of four-year institutions, community colleges, and branch campuses.

    

The Legislature asks the board to examine alternatives to address the operating and capital budget needs identified in the updated plan.  The Legislature also requests that the board proceed with the implementation of the updated plan and report to the Legislature in 2001 on the progress toward implementing the strategies.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared for the House Higher Education Committee

by Erika Prager, Research Analyst (786-7120)

Office of Program Research

February 22, 2000